Best Travel and Hospitality Companies in Germany
The 455 best Travel and Hospitality companies in Germany in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: Deutsche Bahn.
Germany's Travel and Hospitality sector runs deeper than most funding maps suggest, and this directory ranks 455 companies across it by disclosed equity funding and recent momentum. Total disclosed capital hits $9.7B, and the distribution is anything but even.
Deutsche Bahn alone accounts for $4.4B of that pool. Tank & Rast and TUI Group each claimed $1.4B, meaning three names absorb the overwhelming majority of tracked funding before you reach the rest of the field. That concentration matters. The global market these companies operate in was valued at roughly $889.7B in 2020 and is forecast to reach $1,731.4B by 2025 at a 14.2% CAGR, so the runway is real. Mobile tells a parallel story: median install growth across hospitality and travel apps is running at roughly +19% YoY, which, as shown in 2022 research, tracks closely with shifting traveler decision-making behavior. I'd watch that figure. The sector carries zero unicorns right now, but the funding base and demand tailwinds suggest that gap won't hold forever.
Ranked: Best Travel and Hospitality companies in Germany
| # | Company | Disclosed funding | Last round | Employees | Founded | Founder | Market signals (1y) | Patents & IP focus | Recent signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deutsche Bahn Provider of rail transportation services | $4.4B | 34 mo ago | 8,765 | 1994 | Richard Lutz CEO | 13 signals ▼54% Contracts · Leadership · Earnings | 411 patents Rail vehicle control, electropneumatic braking, track geometry sensing, and shunting system technologies. | 1 partnership |
| 2 | BAVARIA Operator and builder of sailing yachts, motorboats and catamarans | $1.4B | 200 mo ago | 700 | 1999 | — | — | 3 patents Synthesis of tungsten nanoparticles for advanced material applications | — |
| 3 | TUI Group Tour and travel company | $1.4B | 59 mo ago | 65,018 | 2002 | Friedrich Joussen CEO | 15 signals ▼62% Earnings · Leadership · Contracts | — | — |
| 4 | Tank & Rast Operator of service outlets in Germany | $1.4B | 55 mo ago | 400 | 1951 | Karl H Rolfes CEO | — | 25 patents Access control and payment systems with voucher dispensing and transaction processing | — |
| 5 | Lufthansa Operator of passenger airlines | $562M | 67 mo ago | 110,264 | 1953 | Carsten Spohr CEO | 96 signals ▲68% Announcements · Leadership · Earnings | — | 1 launch · 1 partnership |
| 6 | FTI GROUP Tour operator | $111M | 54 mo ago | 11,000 | 1980 | — | — | 6 patents Aircraft safety lighting systems and optical volume/size measurement technologies. | — |
| 7 | Auctionata Retailer of arts | $98M | 116 mo ago | 170 | 2012 | — | — | — | — |
| 8 | Deutsche Bahn Provider of mobility portal for train travel | $48M | 66 mo ago | 22,149 | 1994 | Richard Lutz CEO | — | 411 patents Rail vehicle control, signaling, track geometry detection, electropneumatic brakes, and shunting systems | — |
| 9 | Munich-Airport Operator of an airport providing flights, transport, parking, and related services | $33M | 29 mo ago | 12 | 1997 | Jost Lammers CEO | — | — | — |
| 10 | Gorgeous Smiling Hotels Operator of hotels | $29M | 42 mo ago | 40 | 2015 | Andreas Erben Managing Director | — | — | — |
| 11 | Adina Apartment Hotels Operator of standalone hotel | $19M | 45 mo ago | 346 | 1982 | — | — | — | — |
| 12 | NOVUM Hospitality Chains providing mid-scale and upper mid-scale hotel accommodations and services | $17M | 49 mo ago | — | 1988 | Nader Etmenan Founder | — | — | 1 launch · 1 partnership · 3 expansions |
| 13 | Leonardo Hotels Chain of hotels | $16M | 41 mo ago | 2,200 | 2007 | — | — | — | 1 partnership · 1 expansion · 2 awards |
| 14 | Steigenberger Chains providing lodging, dining, meeting, event, and spa services | $16M | 47 mo ago | 58 | 1996 | — | — | — | 1 launch |
| 15 | Welcome Hotels Operator of tours | $16M | 46 mo ago | 79 | 1998 | — | — | — | 1 award |
| 16 | A&o Hostels Provider of hospitality services | $16M | 40 mo ago | 27 | 2000 | Michael Kluge Founder | 3 signals ▲50% Funding · Leadership | — | — |
| 17 | AERTiCKET Provider of travel agencies services | $15M | 43 mo ago | 545 | 1988 | Rainer Klee Founder & Owner & CEO | — | — | 2 partnerships · 1 expansion · 1 award |
| 18 | Vossloh Locomotives Offers diesel locomotives manufacturing and repair services | $15M | 42 mo ago | 500 | 2016 | — | — | 34 patents Locomotive safety and control systems for rail vehicle operation and track detection | — |
| 19 | itravel Group Platform for AI enabled custom travel | $15M | 55 mo ago | 84 | 2012 | Ulrike Figge Founder & Chief Executive Officer | — | — | — |
| 20 | Hahnair Provider of distribution services and ticketing solutions for travel agencies | $14M | 58 mo ago | 201 | 1999 | — | — | — | 1 partnership |
| 21 | Travel Charme Provider of hotels and resorts in various locations | $12M | 59 mo ago | 740 | 1993 | — | — | — | — |
| 22 | Precise Hotels | $12M | 41 mo ago | — | 2007 | — | — | — | — |
| 23 | Metropolitan European Transport Provider of local and regional bus services | $11M | 108 mo ago | 514 | 2011 | — | — | — | — |
| 24 | arcona Management Chains providing lodging, dining, and vacation rental services to travelers | $10M | 44 mo ago | 978 | 2008 | — | — | — | — |
| 25 | SUNDAIR Provider of flight booking services | $9M | 59 mo ago | 240 | 2016 | Marcos Rossello CEO &MD | — | — | 1 job opening |
| 26 | AirGO Operator of private jet charter | $3M | 39 mo ago | — | 1998 | Albrecht Flierl Co-Founder | — | — | — |
| 27 | Alpenpark Neuss Outdoor recreational park offering alpine experiences and gastronomy for families and groups | $1M | 49 mo ago | — | 2001 | Johannes Janz Managing Director | — | — | 1 partnership |
| 28 | My Shore Excursions Operator of shore excursions | $1M | 98 mo ago | — | 2016 | Florian Berthold Founder & CEO | — | — | — |
| 29 | MOTOURISMO Provider of hiking camping & adventure tour operator | $1M | 58 mo ago | 7 | 2016 | Michael Carlin Founder & CEO | — | — | — |
| 30 | Stay Awesome Provider of hotel accommodations services | $1M | 30 mo ago | — | 2021 | Anna Fahle Co-Founder | — | — | — |
| 31 | Navcert Provider of certification services for management systems and personnel qualifications | $958K | 89 mo ago | 10 | 2006 | Marcel Visser Managing Director | — | — | — |
| 32 | Koehlertransfer Provider of transportation and accompaniment services for individuals with disabilities | $664K | 57 mo ago | 26 | 2004 | Michael Medding Managing Director | — | — | 1 partnership |
| 33 | Kunstkraftwerk Leipzig Operator of a digital art center providing immersive multimedia exhibitions | $580K | 63 mo ago | — | 2016 | Paolo Loeffler Managing Director | — | — | 2 awards |
| 34 | KCW Provider of strategic and management consulting for public transportation | $430K | 108 mo ago | — | 2003 | Henning Tegner Managing Director | — | — | — |
| 35 | DB InfraGO Operator of rail infrastructure, providing network access and related services | $279K | 32 mo ago | 47,936 | 2023 | — | — | — | — |
| 36 | INIT Provider of multi-modal transport solutions | $125K | 24 mo ago | 1,118 | 1983 | — | — | — | 1 launch |
| 37 | Gmfneuried Operator of recreational facilities, providing management and consulting services | $122K | 54 mo ago | — | 1985 | Thomas Meier Managing Director | — | — | 1 partnership · 2 expansions |
Top 12 Travel and Hospitality companies in Germany
#1
Funding Raised · Berlin, Berlin · founded 1994 · 8765 employees$4.4Braised▾
Provider of rail transportation services. It offers a range of rail travel services, High-speed trains with amenities like free WiFi, power outlets, first and second class, quiet zones, family areas, and onboard dining options. It also provides Intercity, Regional Trains, Night Trains, and operates extensive freight services and invests in digital innovations for transport efficiency.
- Aug 2023Conventional Debt$2.2B
- Jan 2023Grant (prize money)$100.3K
- Nov 2020Grant (prize money)$215.9K
- Oct 2019Conventional Debt$2.2B
#2
Funding Raised · Munich, Bavaria · founded 1997 · 12 employees$33.4Mraised▾
Operator of an airport providing flights, transport, parking, and related services. It offers options for passengers and visitors, along with company and business resources. The airport facilitates arrivals, departures, and flight planning. Additionally, it provides information on parking, transportation, and airport experiences.
- Jan 2024Grant (prize money)$1.3M
- Mar 2023Grant (prize money)$171.7K
- May 2022Grant (prize money)$1.1M
- Dec 2021Grant (prize money)$26.9M
#3
Acquired · Bonn, North Rhine Westphalia · founded 1951 · 400 employees$1.4Braised▾
Autobahn Tank & Rast is an operator of service outlets in Germany. The company operates service outlets along the German autobahns - the motorway network. The company operates 350 gas filling stations and 390 service areas including approximately 50 hotels.
#4
Public · Hannover, Lower Saxony · founded 2002 · 65018 employees$1.4Braised▾
Die TUI Group is a tour and travel company. Offers 1,600 travel agencies, leading online portals, six airlines with around 150 aircraft, more than 380 hotels, 16 cruise ships, and destination agencies in all major holiday destinations around the globe. Their clientele includes individuals and business. In 2019, the company recorded annual revenues of $21.6B, and a net profit of $0.5B.
- Jun 2021Post IPO—
- Jan 2021Post IPO—
- Sep 2020Post IPO$1.4B
- Jan 2008PE—
#5
Funding Raised · Grunwald, Bavaria · founded 2015 · 40 employees$29.2Mraised▾
Operator of hotels
- Dec 2022Grant (prize money)$2.6M
- Feb 2022Grant (prize money)$26.3M
- Apr 2021Grant (prize money)$119.1K
- Nov 2020Grant (prize money)$118.2K
#6
Public · Karlsruhe, Baden-wurttemberg · founded 1983 · 1118 employees$124.6Kraised▾
Provider of an IT solution for public transport companies. It provides integrated planning, dispatching, telematics, ticketing system, personnel disposition systems, automatic passenger counting systems, operation control, passenger information, analysis, electromobility & more.
- 2024Post IPO—
- Jan 2015Grant (prize money)$124.6K
#7
Acquired · Berlin, Berlin · founded 2000 · 27 employees$15.7Mraised▾
Company provides hospitality services. It offers affordable and centrally located accommodations in the most interesting cities. It provides innovative combination of hotel and hostel under one roof offers our guests a large variety of different room options suitable within everyone's price range
- Feb 2023Grant (prize money)$2.7M
- Mar 2022Grant (prize money)$11M
- Nov 2021Grant (prize money)$2M
#8
Seed · Kassel, State of Hessen · founded 2021$1.1Mraised▾
Stay Awesome is a hospitality provider based in Kassel, Germany. They offer apartments and hotel accommodations through their platform.
- Dec 2023Seed$1.1M
#9
Acquired · Kiel, Schleswig-holstein · founded 2016 · 500 employees$15.1Mraised▾
Offers diesel locomotives manufacturing and repair services
- Nov 2022Grant (prize money)$2.8M
- Feb 2022Grant (prize money)$227K
- Dec 2021Grant (prize money)$3.6M
- Sep 2020Grant (prize money)$8.5M
#10
Funding Raised · Berlin, Berlin · founded 2007 · 2200 employees$16.3Mraised▾
Chain of hotels
- Jan 2023Grant (prize money)$2.4M
- Nov 2021Grant (prize money)$13.9M
#11
Funding Raised · Germany · founded 2007$11.9Mraised▾
- Dec 2022Grant (prize money)$588.7K
- Jun 2022Grant (prize money)$513.9K
- Feb 2022Grant (prize money)$10.8M
#12
Funding Raised · Berlin, Berlin · founded 1982 · 346 employees$18.9Mraised▾
Operator of standalone hotel
- Aug 2022Grant (prize money)$2.3M
- Jun 2022Grant (prize money)$3.3M
- Dec 2021Grant (prize money)$13.2M
- Jun 2021Grant (prize money)$122.5K
Funding & investor landscape
Notable founders
Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage
Share of Travel and Hospitality coverage by sub-theme.
Regulatory-risk over time rising
Funding & growth over time
funding rising · growth rising
Common questions
Riya reads income statements for fun. She covers the real money in a sector — revenue, growth, who actually earns — and never met a vague claim she didn't want a number for.